A CARD FOR MY DAD, MY HERO

I am not feeling well this week, fighting my first ever sinus infection. Hopefully it is also my last.
But I did not want to forget my Dad on Memorial Day. He was and still is a proud United States Marine~
He served in WW2 when he was actually too young to even be in such a war. Fought hard and proud in Okinawa, Japan, watching many of his friends perish right before his eyes.
He came home a wounded soldier with The Purple Heart Award to show for it.
My little contribution to all this is a card for him. It was made with A flourishes set that I got last year.
The sentiment is computer generated and popped up. Cardstock is SU Real Red, and Night Of Navy. Patterned paper is a scrap I had. This card came together very quickly and nI think he will really like it. Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend to all my American Readers.
Many thanks for stopping by...

FATHERS DAY CARD WITH ARTFUL LEGACY STAMPS

Artful Legacy Design Team Card for This Week.
Something for Fathers Day....

Since Fathers Day is right around the corner, I thought I would make a masculine card today. I am a lover of all things flowery and frilly, so cards for men usually scare me. But when I saw this gorgeous stamp "Ship AG 517 M", my fears were gone. Its so detailed, and such a nice large size that my card came together rather quickly.

I stamped it in a chocolate brown ink (Memento) onto cream cardstock and chalked the edges in a creamy brown. It was so nice as is, I decided not to color it. I then paired it with some travel and map themed designer paper (sorry- this is more from my stash) and mounted all this onto some pumpkin colored cardstock. My card measures 6 inches square. I distressed all edges of the paper and used a punch to make it look like the smaller piece was torn from a notebook.

To finish the card and add a little embellishment, I wrapped some thin twine around the smaller piece several times and tied it off in a bow. I am so pleased with the way it came out.

Dont forget to check out what the other DT members have made this week. http://artfullegacyrubberstamps.blogspot.com/.

Many thanks for stopping by...

DONNA DOWNEY INSPIRED ARTIST WORKSHOP

Last week I was lucky enough to attend Donna Downeys Inspired Artist Workshop weekend. I could only stay for some of it, as I had to return home for my neices communion, but I so enjoyed the time I was there. I think I will be going back next year for the whole thing.
I took some classes with Donna a few years ago, and learned alot and liked her quite a bit, so I knew this event was going to be good. She actually hosted the weekend and only taught a couple of classes, but she had a host of wonderful artists there to teach all kinds of things.
I took some of the mini workshops. They last about an hour, so you are moving fast to get as much done as poosible within that time frame.But you receive a wonderful kit and lots of great instruction, so its possible to finish later.
It took place in Charlotte NC, which is about a 4- 4 1/2 hour drive from my home. The hotel was Embassy Suites and was very accomodating, clean and quite pretty.
This poster greeted us at the entrance to the lobby. Here I thought I would share some photos of what I saw while I was there. The next few are from DD's booth.
A gorgeous journal on display....

This banner is part of a new kit she was selling. Arent the colors so bright and cheery?

And you cant not like how it is displayed on the dress form.

A t shirt from theevent and a sample apron. This was one of the classes Donna taught. It sold out right away.

Here is a photo of me and 2 friends after we took the altered camera bag class from Cari Fennell. She works for Prima Marketing and was really sweet.

This photo is from a class I took about how to mkae a watercolor travel journal. This teacher has a running monthly column in Southern Lady magazine. Her illustrations are to die for...

A sample page from one of the journals. She made it look so easy.

Here we are shopping a the Donna Downey booth early in the morning before I even took my shower and got ready for the day. Donna was happy to take pictures with everyone and was even giving out candy from a wicker basket while we shopped. Chocolate and craft supplies??? what better way to start the day~

A HUMANITARIAN RAFFLE WAS ON DISPLAY
There was a raffle with all proceeds going to Hope For Haiti relief. Many big name artists made a camera bag and donated them to the cause. They were all so different, yet all pretty.

You can see which artist made which bag by the names on the ticket boxes in front of each.

Another room had a vendor fair and it was fun to shop in there. Here is one of the booths.

Another photo with Donna. Yipee!!!!!!!

The next 2 pictures are form Jenny Bowlins booth. She is so sweet to talk with, and being a vintage girl myself- her booth was a dream.

She was selling some of her scrapbook line, along with lots of old vintagy goodness. I could have stayed in this booth all day.

Needless to say, I had a couple of bags in my hands after I left these displays. I think I was so excited to see all this vintage stuff, I forgot to ask her for a photo with me.

I have many more photos and some wonderful memories of this event. I think I will start saving my money for next year.

Many thanks for stopping by...

Design Team Showoff Day.

Hello everyone!! I know I have been missing for a bit, but with good reason. I was away last week at Donna Downeys Inspired Artist Workshop~ more on that later~ and my niece made her Fissrt Holy Communion, so my perents flew in from NY for the week.
But here is my submission for this weeks card on the wondeful Artful Legacy Blog. Do check out what all the other design team members have created. http://artfullegacyrubberstamps.blogspot.com.
I have made a 6 by 6 card with the stamps Lg Shell Cluster AL 348J and Come Walk With Me ALS 1276 J.
I used the shell cluster stamp to make my own designer paper by stamping it several times in SU Blue Bayou (disc) ink all over a white piece of cardstock. I then cut it to size and glittered key parts of each shell. I then stamped my sentiment in Memento Black and trimmed it with both a oval and scalloped oval Nestie. I chalked the edges in aqua ink and used pop dots to add some dimension. Then I chose some sheer ribbon which reminded me of little frothy whitecaps near the shore and made it into a bow. I left one of the tails long and twisted it around a bit and attached that with a small glue dot.
It is just so pretty in real life. The colors of the blues and white are so crisp and clean.
The inside has been left blank.

Many thanks for stopping by...

Vintage Beach Ladies From Artful Legacy

Hello~ For this weeks DT submission to the Artful Legacy blog, I chose to use their stamps, Ladies At The Beach and Sit By The Sea. When I saw them, I immediately saw "vintage" which is my fav!!! You can see these stamps and much more at https://artfullegacyrubberstamps.blogspot.com/.
I used muted tones of aquas, beiges, and pinks to help portray this feeling. Cardstock is Bazzill, and white is Pti Select White. You all recognize the Swiss Dot Embossing Folder from Provo Craft I'm sure. I stamped in Memento Brown and colored with Copics. I used my white gel pen to make little polka dots on the beach umbrella. A piece of irridescient white ribbon was used to tie some knots, and PTI Hawaiian Shores buttons were used.

This card also qualifies for the SWEET SUNDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE #68. I enjoyed making this one quite a bit.

Many thanks for stopping by....

A MOTHERS DAY CARD FOR MY SISTER~

Although most of my Mothers Day cards were the floral ones that I posted about the other day, I made a different one for my sister. I like to make her funny ones.
Thid one uses an image from Kraftin Kimmie and when I saw it, I thought of her. She has 2 young kids and they are quite active, they dont stop for a minute. So I know that on more than one occasion, my sister has felt like this. But then again~ what mother hasnt??? LOL It is a 6 by6 easel card on purple Bazzill cardstock. Background DPs are from the never ending stash which I am slowly whittling down.
She is colored with Copics, and embellished with lots of colorful primas.

The SU ticket punch was used for the pink and white corners. Purple and green satin ribbons are from Michaels.

Sentiment inside the card is from CTMH, and the outside sentiment is from Mixed Messages from PTI.

Many thanks for stopping by...

~HAPPY MOTHERS DAY~

A very happy Mothers Day to all my readers out there!
I love this day~ I like to relax and just spend time with my loved ones. Just wished all of them lived close by.
We usually go out to breakfast and then do something fun. Last year we went strawberry picking. Perhaps we will do the same this year.
I have the most wonderful Mother, and I try to follow her lead by being a great Mother. Here are my most precious gifts ever, my children ~ Stephen, Michael and Theresa Lauren. And below is a poem of sorts that holds so much meaning for me. After having 2 healthy little boys at home, I was suddenly thrown into a world of despair when I got the unexpected Diagnosis of Down Syndrome for my precious little newborn girl. I was totally unprepared for this and was being told such terrible things from the so called professionals at the childrens hospital where she was. I was in a tailspin.
After much worrying, reading, talking , and self reflection, we chose to ignore these people and become the best parents we knew how to be for this gift from God. She deserved this and so much more.
Fast forward 16 years and we are a blissfully happy family. She is the light of our lives and we are so proud of her every accomplishment. She is so much more of a regular teenager than a "diagnosis".
Where I first was asking "Why me God?" , I now say "Thank you God for choosing and entrusting me to be the Mom of one of your most special of angels" I have tears as I write this.



Again Happy Mothers Day to all Moms out there!
And to my wonderful sons and precious daughter, Thank You for allowing me to be able to celebrate the best holiday in the world~ I love you guys~

FIFTH AVENUE FLORAL

I have been trying all day to post this, and blogger was not playing nice. Finally, here it is. I made several Mothers Day cards for my family members with the SU set Fifth Avenue Floral. I used the watercolor technique, which is quite popular with this set. Its outlined flowers make it perfect to emboss and watercolor with your Aquapainters. Its alot of fun. I changed each card up just a bit, so no one will be getting exactly the same card. That way, I could also play with alot of color combinations. Who knew reinkers come come in so handy?

I am partial to blues, so this card is my favorite of the bunch. I actually kept this one for myself.

All of them also use the SU Top Note Die, and Cuttlebug Embossing Folder in - you guessed it!! Swiss Dot!!!

Cant get enough of that one~

Here is one with pinks and a touch of coral.

This one uses Summer Sun, Cameo Coral, and A tiny bit of Pumpkin Pie. I think it looks nice against the blue.
Leaves are cut with the SU Little Leaves die. The MOM sentiment is from one of the new SU sets.

Many thanks for stopping by...

SWEET AS CAN BEE

Hi Everyone~ Im back with my submission for this weeks post for the Artful Legacy Design Team. I am grateful to Christine and Buck for allowing me the pleasure of playing with their wonderful stamps. They are a high quality red rubber and come on cling mount or wood mounted. Do check out their blog for the others girls cards for this week. http://artfullegacyrubberstamps.blogspot.com/. These stamps called out "vintage" to me.(as most things do). So with that in mind, I immediately thought of neutrals and pale aquas to start with. Mounted on a very pale aqua cardstock, the card is a standard A-2 size.
I stamped a small script background stamp from Gina K Designs in Creamy Brown Chalk Ink on white cardstock, and used a Heidi Swapp edge distresser on the edges. Then I added a houndstooth strip edged with aqua ink. A very old piece of aqua colored lace anchors the left side of the card, with a black plaid ribbon on top of that.
Bee and sentiment are stamped in Memento Black Ink. The bee has glittered wings, and the shiny body is thanks to SU Crystal Effects. I used my Nesties to make the shape around the bee, but had to play with them a bit as the original dies were too big for what I wanted on this card. I cut him out, and then put the bee back into the Big Shot and moved the die up a bit~ and voila! a custom made die!! Then I did the same for the beige piece behind the bee.
The inside is left blank for your own messages. I am so happy with how this card came out~

Many thanks for stopping by....

MIA

Hi everyone!!! Sorry I have been MIA for the last few days~ but I have a great reason!!! I was picking up THIS GUY!!!!!!!!!!!! Michael just completed another year at the university and we are quite proud of him. As you can see~ his little sister was very excited to see him~
We have to make a mini trip, as he is 6 1/2 hours by car from our home. We live by the beach, where everything is sandy and flat. He goes to school in the total opposite corner of our state North Carolina, where he is in the mountains near the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, near the Tennesee border. Although I am not fond of long road trips, its nice to see all the different scenery up there. There are so many Christmas Tree Farms and you can see all the little trees growing along the mountainside just waiting to grow big and become someones centerpiece of their holiday season someday. Its also much cooler up there.
We are now home safe and sound, and I will be back tomorrow with something really cute that I had made before I left.
Many thanks for stopping by.....